The Fair Flower of Northumberland

It was a knight in Scotland born,Follow, my love, come over the strand--Was taken prisoner and left forlorn,Even by the good Earl of Northumberland.

Then was he cast in prison strong,Follow, my love, come over the strand--Where he could not walk nor lie along,Even by the good Earl of Northumberland.

And as in sorrow thus he lay,Follow, my love, come over the strand--The Earl’s sweet daughter walk’d that way,And she the faire flower of Northumberland.

And loud to her this knight did crie,Follow, my love, come over the strand--The salt teares standing in his eye,And she the faire flower of Northumberland.

‘Faire lady,’ he said, ‘take pity on me,Follow, my love, come over the strand--And let me not in prison dee,And you the faire flower of Northumberland.’--

‘Faire sir, how should I take pity on thee?Follow, my love, come over the strand--Thou being a foe to our countrie,And I the faire flower of Northumberland.’

‘Faire lady, I am no foe,’ he said,Follow, my love, come over the strand--‘Through thy sweet love here was I stay’d,For thee, the faire flower of Northumberland.’--

‘Why shouldst thou come here for love of me,Follow, my love, come over the strand--Having wife and children in thy countrie?--And I the faire flower of Northumberland.’--

‘I swear by the blessèd Trinitie,Follow, my love, come over the strand--I have no wife nor children, I,But I’ll make you my ladye in faire Scotland.

‘I swear by Him that was crown’d with thorn,Follow, my love, come over the strand--That I never had wife since the day I was born,But I live a free lord in faire Scotland.’--

She stole from her father’s pillow the key,Follow, my love, come over the strand--And soon out of prison she’s set him freeTo wend with her into faire Scotland.

Likewise much gold she got by sleight,Follow, my love, come over the strand--And all to help this forlorne knightTo wend from her father to faire Scotland.

She’s led him down to her father’s stable,Follow, my love, come over the strand--And she’s stolen two steeds both wight and able,To carry them on to faire Scotland.

They rode till they came to a water clear,Follow, my love, come over the strand--‘Good Sir, how should I follow you here,And I the faire flower of Northumberland?

‘The water is rough and wonderful steepe,Follow, my love, come over the strand--And on my saddle I shall not keepe,And I the faire flower of Northumberland.’--

‘Fear not the ford, faire lady,’ quoth he,Follow, my love, come over the strand--‘For long I cannot stay for thee,And thou the faire flower of Northumberland.’

From top to toe all wet was she:Follow, my love, come over the strand--‘This have I done for love of thee,And I the faire flower of Northumberland.’

They rode till they came to a Scottish moss,Follow, my love, come over the strand--He bade her light off from her father’s horse,Says, ‘Go, get you back to Northumberland.

‘For I have a wife and children five,Follow, my love, come over the strand--In Edenborrow they be alive,So get thee home to Northumberland.’--

‘Have pity on me as I had it on thee!Follow, my love, come over the strand--A cook in your kitchen I will be,Even I, the faire flower of Northumberland.

‘Or take me by the body so meek,Follow, my love, come over the strand--And throw me in the water so deep,For I darena go back to Northumberland.’

He turn’d him around and he thought of a plan,Follow, my love, come over the strand--He bought an old horse and he hired an old manTo carry her back to Northumberland.

When she came thro’ her father’s ha’,Follow, my love, come over the strand--She louted her low amongst them a’,She was the faire flower of Northumberland.

Down came her father, he saw her and smiled,Follow, my love, come over the strand--‘You arena the first the false Scots have beguiled,And ye’re aye welcome back to Northumberland!’